Static analysis of non-planar coupled shear walls with stepwise changes in geometrical properties using continuous connection method

This paper describes the static analysis of non-planar coupled shear walls with stepwise cross-sectional changes, employing Continuous Connection Method (CCM) in conjunction with Vlasov's theory of thin-walled beams. Furthermore, the change of wall cross-section, span length and the heights of the stories and connecting beams from region to region along the height are taken into consideration. In the analysis, the compatibility equation has been written at the midpoints of the connecting beams. The results of the proposed method are compared with those of the frame method using the SAP2000 structural analysis program. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.